www.cheersonline.com
30
• January/February 2017
If you can get your hands on desirable kegs or bottles, they will
draw enthusiasts.
Another way to attract beer aficionados is with annual
favorites such as Anchor Brewing's Christmas Ale or Sierra
Nevada Celebration. Sondgeroth recommends a coveted
Oklahoma brew, Prairie Artisan Ales', Christmas Bomb! At
13% ABV, it's a popular choice which City Works sells in 10-oz.
pours for $12.
Quality barrel-aged beers perform well in all climates, even
where winter doesn't bring snow. Justin Malone is the owner
of Waller Creek Pub House, a casual spot in Austin, TX, with
wooden bench seating and robust sandwiches and burgers.
"Being in Texas, we don't get too much wintery weather,"
Malone says, "but this time of year we tend to increase our
selection of stouts and porters."
Malone goes on to mention favorites: "Specifically, we like
to bring on barrel-aged stouts like barrel-aged Ten Fidy from
Oskar Blues, barrel-aged Narwhal from Sierra Nevada, Black
Ops from Brooklyn Brewery." Draft pours at Waller House
range from $6 to $8.
Breweries anticipate increased interest in aged beers
during the winter, when they are better protected from
fluctuating summer temperatures. So they often schedule
releases for that season.
Headquarters Beercade in Chicago boasts two levels of retro arcades
in an urban setting with 28 taps and a wide selection of cans.
"WINTER IS BIG FOR PORTERS AND STOUTS,
AS WELL AS BARLEYWINE AND WINTER
WARMERSPEOPLE WANT TO COME INSIDE
AND WARM UP WITH SOMETHING THAT HAS
SOME ABV AND BODY TO IT."
— Zach Rivera, bar manager at Headquarters Beercade in Chicago.
THE WONDERLAND OF WINTER BEER
